The Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission outlined new procedures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Via an Order from April 23, 2020, the Commission has postponed all in-person hearings through June 5, 2020. The commission realizes the need to move forward with Maryland workers compensation cases. As such, the commission will allow parties to request a video remote hearings. A stipulation regarding the request is that both parties must agree to a video remote hearing.
The commission previously cancelled all hearings and proceeding in accordance with Governor Larry Hogan’s shutdown order. However, on April 21, 2020, the commission passed an administrative order to begin moving the process forward.
ORDERED that beginning April 20, 2020, hearings before the Commission shall be conducted remotely, with the procedure as follows:
1.Except as provided in § 2 below, at the request of a party or on the Commission’s initiative, a hearing may be conducted by:(a) Telephone or other audio means, if all parties have an opportunity to participate in and hear the entire proceeding; or (b) Video using Microsoft Teams, if all parties have an opportunity to participate in, hear, and see the entire proceeding.
Of note, the commission still requires that all documentary exhibits be disclosed at least 3 days before the proceeding. The process to do that requires electronically filing with the commission and electronically serving copies on the other party.
If you have been hurt at work in Maryland, Mooney Law stands ready to fight for you. Consultations are always free at Mooney Law. We represent injured workers throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania. Call today at 833-MOONEYLAW or 717-200-HELP or email us at info@mooney4law.com for a FREE consultation. Courts and administrative agencies are beginning to move forward in proceedings. Just as we have since the beginning of the pandemic, Mooney Law is functioning and able to help you. Legal problems do not stop. Neither does Mooney Law.
